Latest: California fire now second-largest in state history

December 20, 2017

In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Santa Barbara County Firefighters haul dozens of pounds of hose and equipment down steep terrain below E. Camino Cielo to root out and extinguish smoldering hot spots in Santa Barbara, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. Officials estimate that the Thomas Fire will grow to become the biggest in California history before full containment, expected by Jan. 7, 2018. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)

Fire spokesman Capt. Rick Crawford said Tuesday that officials will remove potential fuels on the fire’s northern edge so that when winds whip up again Wednesday “there’ll be nothing left to burn.”

He says residents near the city of Ojai could see new smoke from the controlled burn.

The blaze northwest of Los Angeles is the third largest in state history. It’s 50 percent contained. Some evacuations were lifted Monday and Crawford says more residents are being allowed to return Tuesday.

However he cautions that homes are still threatened in parts of Santa Barbara County, where firefighters plan an aggressive air attack on stubborn flames.